EDMONTON – Alberta Premier Alison Redford says she isn’t urging the federal government to impose a national tax on carbon emissions.
Redford made the comment in Edmonton Tuesday following a news story quoting her talking about such a plan while in Ottawa.
“The comments yesterday were about the fact that we have a model that we like here in Alberta, it’s been successful. If other groups choose to adopt programs, we’d suggest they look at this. That was the context of the comments and that’s as far as I go. I’m in no way advocating any sort of national carbon tax,” Redford stressed.
She says her position has been consistent all along.
“I actually went through my comments again, and really, what I’ve said to you today is what I said yesterday and I haven’t changed my mind.”
The premier says she’s not endorsing a levy, but should Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s government consider such a tax, it could look at Alberta’s carbon program for guidance.
“We have already – and have had since 2007 – a price on carbon,” she said, “and that money goes into a tech fund that we use green tech projects that we think have been very effective in dealing with greenhouse gas emissions.”
Alberta taxes heavy emitters $15 a tonne above greenhouse gas emission intensity limits and then uses that money to fund green initiatives and programs.
“To date, we’ve collected over $300 million for over 49 clean energy projects,” said Diana McQueen, Minister of Environment and Sustainable Resource Development. “We think that’s a great way for us that’s been excellent about us being able to reduce emissions and we’ve very proud of that.”
However, opposition parties say Alberta isn’t doing enough.
“The reality is the miniscule $80 million levy that we have here is not achieving what it’s intended to achieve,” said Liberal leader Raj Sherman. “Our carbon footprint has gone up and the Americans have a problem with that, as do the British Columbians. The premier flip-flopping on this issue is another example of her lack of leadership.”
“There’s no question that the inattention to responsible environmental stewardship in the oil sands has given Alberta and Canada a black eye in the rest of the world,” added NDP leader Brian Mason.
Opposition Wildrose Leader Danielle Smith says Redford should be fighting harder to make her position clear, saying a national carbon tax will hurt Alberta producers and send even more Alberta tax money to Quebec and Ontario.
“I do find it interesting that the premier says one thing when she’s in Eastern Canada and then when it doesn’t go over well back home she quickly backpedals,” said Smith.
“We know this for sure, Albertans want to reduce green house gases, but they absolutely do not want a carbon tax.”
Smith said that Albertans certainly would not support a carbon tax on a federal level.
“You can look at the failed election campaigns of whether Thomas Mulcair or Stephane Dion, who proposed national carbon taxes and have been unsuccessful… this is not a popular policy.”
With files from The Canadian Press
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